Rustenburg - A new political party aimed at advancing the development of communities at ward level has been formed in Rustenburg in North West.
“National politics do not provide solutions for problems on the ground; party representatives toe their party mandate at the expense of communities. We want a party that understands problems people face at ward level,” Botho Community Movement (BCM) founder Ofentse Kombe said.
The aim was to advance the aspirations of the community, developed in 2011, when he contested the local government election as an independent candidate.
“The campaign team, after we narrowly lost to the ANC, decided on the formation of an organisation that will stand for the development of the community,” he said.
BCM was based in Boitekong and was confident it could win two or three wards there. The party would contest at least wards 20 and 21 in next year's local government elections.
He said the party had registered with the Electoral Commission of SA (IEC) in April this year and was officially launched on September 12.
“Our main objective is to fight for the people of Boitekong. We stand for their development,” he said.
He lamented that since the dawn of democracy in South Africa in 1994, people of Boitekong had been wasting their votes.
“We do not have access to health and education; such facilities have been built out of reach of most of the community. The only facility build within reach of the community is the juvenile centre.”
Children were forced to travel long distances to other schools because there was only one high school and three primary schools in their area.
“The current situation in Boitekong is not fair for a population of over 15 000 registered voters. The ruling party has been given too much political power; it is time that the community of Boitekong reclaimed it [power].”
The newly established party would encourage the community to participate in consultation processes to determine their needs - an element lacking in some political parties, he said.
“Communities are not consulted, for instance in Boitekong a multi-million rand [sport] stadium was put ahead of the needs of the community, such a school or a clinic that operates 24 hours.”
The BCM was not interested in any coalition with another political party. “They [political parties] have been around for a long time. What is it that they will bring to us which they failed to implement on their own. Coalition is out of question,” he said.
ANA